Penny: Khensthoth doesn't hate Nebankh, but he's not exactly fond of the man, either, for obvious reasons. This chapter explains why Khensthoth did what he did. More kudos to you for figuring out who it really was. :-)
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Adjedaa held her grim gaze on Theoris as his eyes grew wide with horror. He clutched the shield protectively. "Why? What have I done?"
She clasped her hands before her. "You honestly do not remember?"
"I am not aware of anything that needs remembrance, but I tire of being asked when I have already answered the question twice." His expression became one of disgust. "Now, if you are finished verifying that I do not recall anything beyond what I have told you, please tell me... what have I done to warrant such a punishment?"
"Last night, Nebankh came here to speak with you. He tried to tell the guards and servants to leave, but as instructed by the court, they refused to. I am told that as he departed, you rose from bed, called him a coward, and used the powers of your shield to throw him across the outer hall."
Theoris blinked. "What?"
"Two guards and two servants were witness to these events. Nebankh's injuries also testify in favor of this tale."
"Injuries?" Theoris blinked again. "How badly was he hurt?"
"Not badly, but he must rest. And because he attempted to defy the court's orders, he will be kept in his home until the task is finished and you have regained your strength." Adjedaa cocked her head. "You are concerned?"
"Yes, I am concerned. Are you not?"
"I said nothing of the sort. Your concern, however, appears to be genuine, as does your surprise."
"Of course my surprise is genuine! How can you expect otherwise when I have thrice told you I do not remember such an event occurring?"
"Calm yourself, Theoris. You may have thrice said you do not remember, but I have not once said I do not believe you." Adjedaa sighed. "As it is, the court is deliberating on the issue of what to do, now that the powers of the shield have been used for malicious intent."
THEY WERE NOT USED FOR MALICIOUS INTENT!!!
Theoris groaned under the strength and passion of the words Khensthoth shouted through his mind.
Adjedaa frowned. "Theoris...?"
He brought a hand to his head. Khensthoth, you know what happened?
... Do not tell her about me. She will believe you have gone insane.
It is hard for me to believe that I am not insane. If I have such difficulty, surely she is convinced. But you know what happened?
... Yes.
Tell me.
I will tell you when she leaves.
Theoris looked up at Adjedaa. "You believe the powers of the shield were being used in malice?"
"Something compelled you to call Nebankh a coward. That is not a term of praise. Contempt appears to be the only explanation."
Theoris snorted. "Nebankh has nothing but contempt for me."
"I know. That is why the court is debating whether to take your shield. If he had nothing but respect for you, we would have taken it during the night."
Theoris looked into her eyes. "You do believe me, do you not? You do not seriously think what I would insult even Nebankh in that fashion, do you?"
"Five people not only believe otherwise, but claim to have witnessed otherwise. You are a man of integrity, and that is why I have my doubts. But right now, I do not know what to believe. I cannot deny the testimonies of five people who all say the same thing... nor can I deny you a chance to receive the benefit of the doubt."
Theoris sighed. "To be honest, I would not have responded favorably to him had I known he was here. I likely would have asked him to leave." His eyes hardened. "But I would not have called him a coward."
"Do you believe him to be one?"
"I believe him to be a man of lesser integrity."
She raised an eyebrow. "Lesser than your own?"
He sighed. "It is not my place to judge a court mage to that extent, Adjedaa."
"What you say here, no one will take with them."
He sighed again. "Very well. I believe Nebankh to be... pompous and arrogant... to a greater extent than is really necessary. A certain arrogance should be expected -- a court mage should take pride in his position, I think -- but his is excessive. He acts out of fear and anger, and he constantly attempts to defy the court. I simply wonder how the decision was arrived at that he should become part of the court."
A small smile played on Adjedaa's lips. "He has extremist views. He is on the court precisely so that we may hear his ranting and make a decision with the full awareness that our people may be possessed of the same views."
Silence reigned in the room for several moments before Theoris spoke again. "Please, do not take the Millennium Shield. Not until the task is completed."
She let out a small sigh and turned to leave the room. "I will do what I can."
After she was gone, Theoris slumped back to his bed and "turned" to Khensthoth. She has gone... now tell me what happened.
When Nebankh came into the room, he tried to order the guards and servants out, as Adjedaa told you. When they did not, Nebankh threatened the servants with bodily harm. The guards attempted to escort him out of the room, but he uttered a threat. I could not let that threat go unchallenged.
You? What do you mean you could not let the threat go?
Theoris didn't receive a response. He frowned. Khensthoth, what do you mean?
... I mean to say that I did what I felt was necessary.
Theoris felt confused for several moments... but then his eyes widened. It was you.
Yes. I occupied your sleeping body. I was the one that rose up and used the powers of the shield. But Adjedaa is wrong; I did not use them in malice. I used them in defense.
How were you able to occupy my body? Is this another ability the shield has given you?
In exchange for a great portion of the strength left me, yes. I do not know that I shall ever be able to do it again... but the threat needed to be answered.
You told Nebankh he was a coward?
I did. In response, he attempted to use the power gifted him to silence me. I called upon the power of the shield to protect me, and it did. The attack was reflected back onto Nebankh. That is what caused him to be thrown to the floor. His own magic was his undoing.
Theoris frowned. You could have told me you were able to do all this before actually doing it. I have rights to the use of my own body.
I know. That is why I fear you will loathe me from this moment forward. I violated that right. But I wished to make it clear that you are not to be trifled with, not as long as you have the shield. I could not help myself. I am sorry for not telling you.
Theoris scowled. Your actions may cost me the shield before we can finish our task. Those magicians are still out there. We must not do anything to further disrupt their already shaking trust in me. It may be a while before I can find forgiveness for you.
Khensthoth didn't respond.
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Theoris stepped forward slowly, trying to maintain his balance. He still felt queasy, especially after the apparent events of the previous night. As much as he disliked Nebankh, he didn't much enjoy hearing about the old mage's injuries, either.
Particularly when I was not the one who caused those injuries!
Surero spoke softly as he presented the Millennium item he bore. "The Millennium Rod has the power to control the hearts of men. It must not be found."
The Millennium Rod was slightly longer than a scepter, and it bore three round, glowing jewels at the top. The emerald stone -- which was both the largest and lowest jewel on the item -- had a golden Eye of Horus fused to it.
Theoris hefted the shield and poised its Eye of Horus to look into the one that adorned the Rod.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. It was almost unbearably hard for him to do so; his energy had almost been exhausted already, between lack of sleep and two extensive uses of the shield's power -- and his own -- in as many days.
Khensthoth... I do not know that I will be able to do this...
I have faith in you, Theoris. I believe you can accomplish this task. Keep faith in yourself.
Theoris began to push. A golden glow surrounded the shield, and a stream of golden energy poured out from the shield's Eye, to strike the Eye adorning the rod.
...another...?
Oh, no, not again...
...another...! Soul other, beautiful, pretty soul other! Not-me soul dark dark like me, not-me! Not-me, stay!
Stay...? Theoris felt confused, and his concentration began to slip. I can't hold on...!
But then an ethereal hand reached out and grasped at Theoris, pulling him back.
Stay! Stay Not-me, stay, give company, talk, Not-me, talk of things, tell things, talk, stay! Need not-me, Not-me!
What?
Lonely, dark, scary, alone, no not-me to talk, say things, Not-me comes, Not-me stay and tell of things! Not-me has name, yes?
My... my name is... Theoris...
Not-me is Theoris?
Yes...
Theoris, stay, stay and talk, stay and give company, give company, so lonely-dark, need not-me, Theoris is Not-me needed, Theoris stay!
To his horror, Theoris felt himself being pulled deeper in. It was as though the link that the two Millennium items shared had become some sort of whirlpool, and Theoris was caught in the tide.
You are dragging me in! Why?!
Cannot stand to be alone, Theoris, precious not-me, must stay! Stay and talk, talk and stay, stay-talk-company-be!
Let go! I cannot -- will not -- must not stay!
Must! Must stay, stay, accompany, tell, curious, curious, need to know, need to hear, tell!
No! Release me!
Will not! Must stay, not-me Theoris, must stay! Cannot stand dark!
Theoris began losing contact with his body... he could no longer hear, see, or feel anything. All he knew was the vortex he was being puller further and further into, and the insane voice that echoed within his mind.
Not-me Theoris, leave not! Jealous-envy! Cannot leave! Cannot leave, but not-mes can!
Then let me leave! I do not wish to stay; I still have work left! I cannot leave my family!
...Theoris-family?
Theoris felt the vortex lessen in its intensity, and he reached out desperately for the lifeline back to his body. Yes! I have a family! It is not right to keep me from them!
... jealous-envy Theoris-family... No family, no offspring, alone, dark, scared...
Theoris found the link between the items quite suddenly, as if it had been hidden and was now revealed. He lashed out at it and caught it, hanging on for his life as the vortex continued to swirl around him. He tried to pull his way back to his body, but the vortex grasped at him too firmly; he coud not retreat any further.
...Theoris leave?
Yes... I must...
...Theoris-family needs Theoris... must wait for another... another, beautiful, pretty soul-other, not-me...
The vortex disappeared entirely. The metaphysical strength behind Theoris's pulling was suddenly very unnecessary...
The golden auras surrounding the shield and the rod flashed, then vanished.
Theoris rocketed back into his body with such force that he flew back across the throne room floor.
The sudden absence of the link, and within it the tugging vortex, caused Surero to fly back, as well. The two men skidded and slid to a stop nearly five times the distance they'd stood from each other just moments before.
Mages and guards alike scrambled to get the men back on their feet. Surero seemed relatively unharmed, and was only slightly rattled. He knew of the dangerous powers within the items, and though he might not have known exactly what they were capable of, he'd accepted the risks anyway.
If getting thrown to the floor is the hardest segment of this procedure, I would say that I am blessed, he thought, as guards helped him to stand.
Theoris, however, suffered a worse fate than did Surero; he had been knocked unconscious. The absence of badly needed spirit energy, combined with struggling against the spirit within the Millennium Rod, had done enough to him already. Being thrown to the floor had simply been the catalyst.
A pair of guards carried Theoris out of the throne room, which became abuzz with loud murmuring. Someone handed Surero a walking stick, which he gratefully took and put his weight on.
He watched as Theoris was taken away.
I wonder what this sort of experience does to a man.
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Theoris's body burned worse than ever that evening. One of the servants very nearly made the mistake of vocalizing her opinion that his own body was boiling itself to death.
The cloths that covered him did not stay wet for very long; they were changed much more often than they'd needed to be the first night. Since the servants had no idea what it was that Theoris had been doing before coming back to the room, they had no idea how else they could help him, save to obey Adjedaa's commands.
They couldn't help but feel that their ministrations were quite inadequate at this point.
The one thing that seemed to be helping him was that he had been knocked unconscious. That condition practically forced him to take the rest he needed.
Khensthoth watched over Theoris in silent vigil. Throughout the night, he tried to come up with some way to mend the rift between them, but he could think of nothing. All that raged through his mind was anger and despair.
Is there nothing else I can do for you, Theoris...?
Theoris couldn't even respond through thought.
You cannot die. You are too important for that. If you die, no one will take your place because they will not find it worth their while, or their sanity. Your sanity holds faster than that of many others... I am surprised you have managed this long. I wonder if it is because of my training or your tenacity.
It matters not. You must survive.
Everything depends on you.
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